The London Chess Classic lived up to its name, delivering an exciting contest that went right to the wire. The tournament gathered all four players rated over 2800, plus the US number one Hikaru Nakamura and the top four English players. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia capped a successful 2011 by winning all four of his games against the locals and drawing the rest to win outright on 16 points (3 for a win, one for a draw). He was followed a point behind by Nakamura, winning just as many games, but losing one to Norway's Magnus Carlsen, who finished third on 14 points.
Today's game is the remarkable victory from the fourth round by Nakamura with the black pieces over reigning world champion, India's Vishy Anand.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 ---
The Bayonet Attack is the most common top-level response to the King's Indian nowadays – seeking to prove Black's concept of giving up the queenside for a kingside attack unsound. 9.--- Ne8 10.c5 f5 11.Nd2 Nf6 12.a4!? g5 13.Nc4 h6 14.f3 f4
By delaying f2-f3 White has gained a tempo on a book line thanks to black's 13...h6 when normally the pawn would be on h5 at this point. 15.Ba3 Ng6 16.b5 dxc5 17.Bxc5 Rf7 18.a5 h5
The slow-motion flank advances typical of the King's Indian continues with Black a clear move behind, so White's pawns make first contact. 19.b6 g4 20.Nb5 cxb6 21.axb6 g3!
At this point my computer strongly favours White, having not even ranked Black's last move in it's top three candidates. But the long-term mating threats latent in the position from now on will make themsleves felt against a human opponent. 22.Kh1 Bf8 23.d6 a6 24.Nc7 Rb8 25.Na5 Kh8 26.Bc4 Rg7 27.Ne6 ---
Eliminating the bishop as a vital attacking unit is a standard King's Indian theme, but Anand's choice gives up a knight of great value. Preferable is 27 Be6 when 27...Nd7 to preserve the bishop from exchange maintains White's superiority, though Black still has attacking chances. 27.--- Bxe6 28.Bxe6 gxh2 29.Nc4? Qe8!
White's last was a blunder allowing an unusual tactical motif to force the bishop off the key defensive diagonal. If now 30 Bh3 or 30 Bf5 then 30...Qb5! forks the two undefended minor pieces. Suddenly Black's attack gains enormous impetus. 30.Bd5 h4 31.Rf2 h3 32.gxh3 Rc8!
A crucial prelude to the final assault – activating Black's last piece. The c-file tangle means no time is lost. 33.Ra5 Nh4 34.Kxh2 Nd7 35.Bb4 Rg3 36.Qf1 Qh5 37.Ra3 ---
The pressure on f3 forces White to lift the blockade, since 37 Nd2? Rc1! 38 Qxc1 Nxf3+ mates. 37.--- a5!
Prizing open the crack to get his remaining pieces into the attack. White can't reply 38 Bxa5 due to 38 ...Bxd6! and 39 Nxd6? Rc1! wins as in the previous note. 38.Be1 Rxc4! 39.Bxc4 Bxd6 40.Rxa5 Bc5 41.Be2 ---
Preserving the active rook for counterchances as the immediate return of material by 41 Rxc5 Nxc5 42 Be2 Ne6 is hopeless due to the threat of 43...Ng5 and 43 Kh1!? (to meet Ng5 with 44 Rh2) loses to 43...Ng2! winning the queen as 44 Rxg2? Rxh3+ mates. 41.--- Bxb6 42.Rb5 Bd4 43.Bd1 ---
No improvement is 43 Rxb7 Nc5 44 Rb1 Nd3! 45 Bxd3 Bxf2 46 Be2 (46 Bxf2 Nxf3+ mates in three) Bxe1 47 Rxe1 Qg6! followed by Rg2+, Qg3 and mate. 43.--- Bxf2 44.Bxf2 Nxf3+ 45.Bxf3 Qxf3 46.Rb1 Rg6 47.Rxb7 Nf6 48.Rb8+ Kh7 49.Rb7+ Kh6 White Resigns
Coming is 50 ...Nxe4 followed by liquidation to a won endgame with the two connected passed pawns.
London Classic delivers exciting contest
Problem: Black to play and mate in 6.
The London Chess Classic lived up to its name, delivering an exciting contest that went right to the wire. The tournament gathered all four players rated over 2800, plus the US number one Hikaru Nakamura and the top four English players. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia capped a successful 2011 by winning all four of his games against the locals and drawing the rest to win outright on 16 points (3 for a win, one for a draw). He was followed a point behind by Nakamura, winning just as many games, but losing one to Norway's Magnus Carlsen, who finished third on 14 points.
Today's game is the remarkable victory from the fourth round by Nakamura with the black pieces over reigning world champion, India's Vishy Anand.
1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 g6
3.Nc3 Bg7
4.e4 d6
5.Nf3 O-O
6.Be2 e5
7.O-O Nc6
8.d5 Ne7
9.b4 ---
The Bayonet Attack is the most common top-level response to the King's Indian nowadays – seeking to prove Black's concept of giving up the queenside for a kingside attack unsound.
9.--- Ne8
10.c5 f5
11.Nd2 Nf6
12.a4!? g5
13.Nc4 h6
14.f3 f4
By delaying f2-f3 White has gained a tempo on a book line thanks to black's 13...h6 when normally the pawn would be on h5 at this point.
15.Ba3 Ng6
16.b5 dxc5
17.Bxc5 Rf7
18.a5 h5
The slow-motion flank advances typical of the King's Indian continues with Black a clear move behind, so White's pawns make first contact.
19.b6 g4
20.Nb5 cxb6
21.axb6 g3!
At this point my computer strongly favours White, having not even ranked Black's last move in it's top three candidates. But the long-term mating threats latent in the position from now on will make themsleves felt against a human opponent.
22.Kh1 Bf8
23.d6 a6
24.Nc7 Rb8
25.Na5 Kh8
26.Bc4 Rg7
27.Ne6 ---
Eliminating the bishop as a vital attacking unit is a standard King's Indian theme, but Anand's choice gives up a knight of great value. Preferable is 27 Be6 when 27...Nd7 to preserve the bishop from exchange maintains White's superiority, though Black still has attacking chances.
27.--- Bxe6
28.Bxe6 gxh2
29.Nc4? Qe8!
White's last was a blunder allowing an unusual tactical motif to force the bishop off the key defensive diagonal. If now 30 Bh3 or 30 Bf5 then 30...Qb5! forks the two undefended minor pieces. Suddenly Black's attack gains enormous impetus.
30.Bd5 h4
31.Rf2 h3
32.gxh3 Rc8!
A crucial prelude to the final assault – activating Black's last piece. The c-file tangle means no time is lost.
33.Ra5 Nh4
34.Kxh2 Nd7
35.Bb4 Rg3
36.Qf1 Qh5
37.Ra3 ---
The pressure on f3 forces White to lift the blockade, since 37 Nd2? Rc1! 38 Qxc1 Nxf3+ mates.
37.--- a5!
Prizing open the crack to get his remaining pieces into the attack. White can't reply 38 Bxa5 due to 38 ...Bxd6! and 39 Nxd6? Rc1! wins as in the previous note.
38.Be1 Rxc4!
39.Bxc4 Bxd6
40.Rxa5 Bc5
41.Be2 ---
Preserving the active rook for counterchances as the immediate return of material by 41 Rxc5 Nxc5 42 Be2 Ne6 is hopeless due to the threat of 43...Ng5 and 43 Kh1!? (to meet Ng5 with 44 Rh2) loses to 43...Ng2! winning the queen as 44 Rxg2? Rxh3+ mates.
41.--- Bxb6
42.Rb5 Bd4
43.Bd1 ---
No improvement is 43 Rxb7 Nc5 44 Rb1 Nd3! 45 Bxd3 Bxf2 46 Be2 (46 Bxf2 Nxf3+ mates in three) Bxe1 47 Rxe1 Qg6! followed by Rg2+, Qg3 and mate.
43.--- Bxf2
44.Bxf2 Nxf3+
45.Bxf3 Qxf3
46.Rb1 Rg6
47.Rxb7 Nf6
48.Rb8+ Kh7
49.Rb7+ Kh6
White Resigns
Coming is 50 ...Nxe4 followed by liquidation to a won endgame with the two connected passed pawns.
0-1
Solution: 1 ... Rd1+!! 2 Kxd1 Qd3+ 3 Kc1 (3 Ke1 Qd2#) 3... Rc4+ 4 Kb2 (4 Qc3 Rxc3+ 5 Kb2 Qc2+ 6 Ka1 Rxa3#) 4... Rc2+ 5 Ka1 (5 Kb1 Qb3+) 5... Qxa3+ and mates next move.